Reclosable animal feed container

ABSTRACT

A reclosable animal feed container is disclosed. The reclosable animal feed container comprises a flexible body defining a cavity to contain animal feed and having a closed bottom portion and a top portion; a removable portion coupled to the top portion removable to define an opening that provides access to animal feed contained within the body; and a closure device coupled to the body proximate the top portion and comprising a first deformable member extending from a first side of the body. The opening is reclosable by providing one or more folds to the top portion of the body and bending the first deformable member to engage the first side of the body.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of animal feed bagsor containers, and more specifically, to reclosable animal feed bag orcontainer that also includes a quick-release opening feature.

Feed bags used for animal feed are generally known. Many conventionalfeed bags are made with a plastic-lined paper bag that is opened bytearing off a portion of the top of the feed bag (e.g., by way of aperforated seam, etc.). The feed bags may be designed to accommodaterather large quantities of animal feed (e.g., 50 pounds) that is notentirely used after the feed bag is originally opened, but is used upover time. The unused animal feed is typically stored within the openedfeed bag until the animal feed within the food bag is fully used.Therefore, it is often desirable to be able to reclose and/or reseal theanimal feed bag between uses to, for example, preserve the freshness ofthe animal feed and avoid spillages of the animal feed should the feedbag be tipped over, dropped, etc. However, difficulties often arise inproviding a simple, low-cost way to reclose and/or reseal feed bags. Forexample, some feed bags may be provided with no way to reclose orre-reseal the feed bag, and users may attempt to fold or roll the feedbag to reclose the feed bag. This may be difficult to do because feedbags are often made of relatively stiff materials that resist beingfolded, rolled, etc. without being restrained in the rolled or foldedposition. Also, such folding, rolling, etc. may obscure indicia (such astext or graphics).

Some feed bags may be provided with a resealable portion (e.g., aplastic “zipper,” tape adhesive, etc.) that enables a user to reseal thetop of the bag between uses. However, these seals often become lesseffective and unreliable as fines (e.g., small particles of animal feed,etc.) and other undesirable items become trapped in or on the sealmaterial.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an animal feed baghaving a quick-release opening feature and an improved closure devicethat permit easy and reliable opening and reclosure of an animal feedbag.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a reclosable animal feed container. Thereclosable animal feed container comprises a flexible body defining acavity to contain animal feed, the body having a closed bottom portionand a top portion; a removable portion coupled to the top portionremovable to define an opening that provides access to animal feedcontained within the body; and a closure device coupled to the bodyproximate the top portion, the closure device comprising a firstdeformable member extending from a first side of the body. The openingis reclosable by providing one or more folds to the top portion of thebody and bending the first deformable member to engage the first side ofthe body.

The present invention also relates to a method of packaging animal feed.The method comprises providing a flexible hollow body that containsanimal feed, the body having a top and a bottom, each having an opening;closing the opening in the top by application of a removable portion;coupling a closure device to the body proximate the top, the closuredevice comprising a deformable member and configured to engage the bodyduring a reclosing operation by the consumer; introducing animal feedthrough the opening at the bottom to a cavity defined by the body andthe top; and closing the opening in the bottom to contain the animalfeed within the body.

The present invention further relates to a method of using an animalfeed container having a flexible body with a closed bottom portion and atop portion. The method comprises opening the top portion of the bodyand closing the top portion of the body. The top portion is closed byproviding one or more folds to the body and engaging the body with aclosure device that is coupled to the body proximate the top portion bybending a first deformable member extending from a first side of thebody.

The present invention further relates to various features andcombinations of features shown and described in the disclosedembodiments. Other ways in which the objects and features of thedisclosed embodiments are accomplished will be described in thefollowing specification or will become apparent to those skilled in theart after they have read this specification. Such other ways are deemedto fall within the scope of the disclosed embodiments if they fallwithin the scope of the claims which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an animal feed bag according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the animal feed bag of FIG. 1 according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the animal feed bag of FIG. 1 taken alongline 3-3 shown in FIG. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a closure device for the animalfeed bag of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a portion of material for the animal feed bagof FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 2 according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of animal feed and an animal feed bagaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate various stages of an animal feed bag being openedaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 8A-8B, 9 and 10 illustrate various stages of an animal feed bagbeing reclosed according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section of a portion of an animal feed bag accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a portion of the process ofmanufacturing an animal feed bag according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a portion of the process of openingand reclosing an animal feed bag according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a reclosable animal feed bag 10 (e.g., acontainer, sack, carrier, etc.) is shown according to an exemplaryembodiment. Animal feed bag 10 is used to store feed, or the like, foranimals or pets. Feed bag 10 includes a generally flexible, hollow, bodyportion 12, a top portion or top 14, and a bottom portion or bottom 16.Feed bag 10 also includes two gusseted side portions 20, 22, as shownbest in FIG. 1. According to various alternative embodiments, feed bag10 may be used to store a wide variety of animal feed materials.

According to an exemplary embodiment, feed bag 10 has an interiorportion or cavity 18 that is used to store various animal feed productssuch as animal feed 62. Cavity 18 is defined by body 12, which is closedat bottom 16 by a thread 42, and closed at top 14 with a quick-releaseopening mechanism 24 (e.g., a removable portion, etc.) Body 12 includesa first or front portion 44 (e.g., a wall, surface, etc.) and a secondor rear portion 46 (e.g., a wall, surface, etc.). Feed bag 10 is alsoprovided with a closure device 26 that enables users to reclose or sealfeed bag 10 and store unused portions of animal feed 62. Body 12 mayfurther include one or more indicia 38, 40 (e.g., text, graphics, etc.)on front surface 44. According to one embodiment, indicia 40 is providedat a 180 degree orientation (e.g., with inverted text graphics, etc.,when feed bag 10 is in the upright position) with respect to indicia 38.According to yet another embodiment, indicia 68 may be provided on oneor both of gusseted side portions 20, 22. For example, according to oneembodiment, indicia 68 may include nutritional information regardinganimal feed 62 and be provided in a first language (e.g., English, etc.)on one of gusseted side portions 20, 22 and be provided in a secondlanguage (e.g., Spanish, etc.) on the other of gusseted side portions20, 22.

According to one embodiment, opening mechanism 24 provides a secureclosure for feed bag 10 until feed bag 10 is opened, and provides aquick and easy way for a user to open feed bag 10 when desired. As shownin FIGS. 1-3, prior to feed bag 10 being opened, opening mechanism 24secures front portion 44 of body 12 to rear portion 46 of body 12 (seeFIG. 3) to securely retain animal feed 62 within feed bag 10. Openingmechanism 24 includes a first tape or strip 28 and a second tape or pullstrip 30 that are secured to body 12 at top portion 14 by a thread 32.Strip 28 is folded over the top of body 12 and extends beyond the widthof body 12 to either side of body 12. Pull strip 30 is provided on oneside of body 12. Thread 32 secures pull strip 30 and strip 28 to body 12at top portion 14. According to one embodiment, thread 32 is provided ina fashion that permits a user to move pull strip 30 away from strip 28to release (e.g., unravel, unthread, etc.) thread 32, thereby permittinga user to remove and discard strip 28 and pull strip 30 and open feedbag 10 (as discussed in further detail below). Referring to FIG. 11,according to one embodiment, thread 32 secures strip 28 and pull strip30 to body 12 using a series of looped portions 70 that are inter-meshedwhen feed bag 10 is closed, and become un-meshed as pull strip 30 ispulled away from strip 28. Strip 28 and/or pull strip 30 may be madefrom a variety of materials (e.g., paper materials, polymers, etc.)using various constructions.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, closure device 26 will be discussed ingreater detail. Closure device 26 is configured to selectively engagebody 12 to retain feed bag 10 in a closed or sealed condition. As shownin FIGS. 1-3, closure device 26 is an elongated member that is securedto a surface (e.g., front surface 44 or rear surface 46) of body 12proximate to top 14 of feed bag 10. It should be understood that termssuch as “front” and “rear” are used for convenient reference, notlimitation, on an exemplary embodiment and other embodiments may reversethe structure relative to the “front” and “rear” and the like. Closuredevice 26 includes two deformable members, shown as tabs 34, 36 (e.g.,projections, extensions, deformable members, ends, etc.), that extendbeyond the sides of body portion 12 to permit a user to grasp andmanipulate tabs 34, 36. Tabs 34, 36 may be bent (e.g., contorted, etc.)by the user to a desired configuration and retain this configuration.According to one embodiment, closure device 26 is located approximately2.5 inches from the top edge of body 12. According to variousalternative embodiments, closure device 26 may be located at anysuitable location on a surface of body 12 that provides the properclosure features.

According to one embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, closure device 26 includestwo deformable or pliable wires 54, 56 (e.g., metal wires, such as lowcarbon steel wires, polymer wires, etc.) that are coupled to or capturedwith a support member 58 and extend the length of closure device 26.According to an exemplary embodiment, support member 58 is formed from apolymer material (e.g., a blend of polyethylene resins, etc.) thatencapsulates wires 54, 56 and couples the encapsulated wires togetherwith a web portion 60. According to one embodiment, closure device 26has a width of approximately 0.5 inches (e.g., measured between wires54, 56) and extends approximately 1.5 inches beyond both sides of body12. Alternatively, closure device may have a width in the ranges ofapproximately, 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches, or 0.2 inches to 1.0 inch,etc. Closure device 26 may also extend beyond both sides of body 12 bybetween 0.5 inches to 2.0 inches, 0.25 inches to 3.0 inches, etc.Various other configurations (e.g., sizes, shapes, lengths, widths,etc.) may alternatively be used for closure device 26.

Closure device 26 may be coupled to body 12 in a variety of ways. Forexample, according to an exemplary embodiment, closure device 26 iscoupled to body 12 using an adhesive material, such as a hot-glueadhesive, a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, etc. According toanother exemplary embodiment, closure device 26 may be sewn onto body 12using a suitable thread material. According to yet another exemplaryembodiment, closure device 26 may be incorporated into a weave structureof body 12 (e.g., in cases where body 12 is provided as a wovenmaterial, as discussed in greater detail with respect to FIG. 5). Otherways of coupling closure device 26 to body 12 may alternatively be used.

Referring now to FIG. 5, according to an exemplary embodiment, body 12may be made from two substantially perpendicular groups of strips 50, 52of material that are woven into a weave pattern 48. Weave pattern 48provides a low-cost, durable construction for body 12 that resiststearing, ripping, etc. of feed bag 10, and prevents leakage of greaseand/or fat from animal feed through feed bag 10. According to anexemplary embodiment, strips 50, 52 are made from a polymer material,but the material for strips 50, 52 may be varied to suit a particularapplication. As discussed above, weave pattern 48 may permit closuredevice 26 to be woven into the structure of body 12, providing a secureway of coupling closure device 26 to body 12. According to analternative exemplary embodiment, rather than having a weave patternsuch as weave pattern 48, body 12 may be made from a rolled sheet ofpolymer material or other suitable material.

Referring now to FIG. 6, according to an exemplary embodiment, an animalfeed 62 is introduced into cavity 18 through an opening in bottomportion 16. As shown in FIG. 6, during the assembly of feed bag 10,opening mechanism 24 may be installed at top portion 14 after body 12 iscut to length and prior to closing bottom portion 16. While bottomportion 16 is open, animal feed 62 is introduced into cavity 18, afterwhich bottom portion 16 is closed or sealed with thread 42 (see, e.g.,FIGS. 2 and 3) using, for example, a sewing operation. According to oneembodiment, closure device 26 may be coupled to body 12 prior tointroducing animal feed 62 into cavity 18. According to an exemplaryembodiment, tabs 34, 36 of closure device 26 are folded into gussetedside portions 20, 22 (e.g., such that they do not extend beyond bodyportion 12 as shown in FIG. 1) to facilitate transportation and storageof feed bag 10 (e.g., between a manufacturer and retailer, etc.) andprevent damage or inadvertent removal of tabs 34, 36 prior to use by aconsumer.

As discussed above, feed bag 10 is intended to provide an easy reclosurefeature that enables users to store unused animal feed within feed bag10 after opening feed bag 10 (e.g., after removing opening mechanism 24as discussed above). Referring to FIGS. 7A-10, one exemplary process ofopening and reclosing feed bag 10 will be discussed in greater detail.As shown in FIG. 7A, feed bag 10 is provided closed at top portion 14. Auser may grasp pull strip 30 and move pull strip 30 away from strip 28,thereby releasing or unraveling thread 32, which secures pull strip 30,strip 28, and body 12 together at top 14. Referring to FIG. 7B, onceopening mechanism 24 is removed, front and rear surfaces 44, 46 (seeFIG. 3) of body 12 may be pulled apart (or may open independently) toform an opening 64 through which the animal feed stored within cavity 18may be accessed.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, after removing the desired amount of animalfeed from feed bag 10, the user may fold top portion 14 over, forexample, the portion of closure device 26 coupled to bag 12 (e.g.,toward front surface 44 in the illustrated embodiment). The user maythen secure bag 12 in the closed position by folding tabs 34, 36 overfront portion 44. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8B, the user may foldtop portion 14 over, for example, surface of bag 12 opposite the surfacewith closure device 26 (e.g., toward rear surface 46 in the illustratedembodiment). According to yet another embodiment, shown in FIG. 9, topportion 14 may be folded at fold line 66 such that after folding, anytext, images, etc. that are provided as part of indicia 40 (originallyinverted as shown in FIG. 7B) appear in the upright position when feedbag 10 is folded or closed. Wires 54, 56 act to permit a user tomanipulate or fold closure device 26 and tabs 34, 36 as required tosecure top portion 14 in the folded position, yet provide sufficientstrength to maintain feed bag 10 closed and prevent spillage should feedbag 10 be tipped, dropped, etc. by a user. In order to reopen feed bag10, a user simply straightens tabs 34, 36 and unfolds body 12 to accesscavity 18. Feed bag 10 may then be closed again as discussed herein.

While FIGS. 8 and 9 show feed bag 10 being closed with a single fold attop portion 14, as shown in FIG. 10, multiple folds may be used to foldtop portion 14 and reclose feed bag 10. According to alternativeembodiments, the user may employ any of a variety of folding techniques,directions, configurations, number of folds, and the like to obtain thedesired level of closure or seal to the animal feed container.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a process for making an animal feed bagaccording to an exemplary embodiment is illustrated. First, a flexiblehollow body (e.g., such as body 12) is provided (step 80). The top ofthe body is closed with a removable portion (e.g., such as openingmechanism 24) and a closure device (e.g., such as closure device 26) iscoupled to the body (steps 82 and 84). Animal feed (e.g., such as animalfeed 62) is then introduced through the opening at the bottom of thebody (step 86), after which the opening at the bottom is closed to sealthe animal feed within the body (step 88).

Referring now to FIG. 13, a process for opening and reclosing animalfeed bag 10 according to an exemplary embodiment is illustrated. Inorder to gain access to the animal feed, the removable portion isremoved from the top (step 90), after which the desired amount of animalfeed may be removed. The feed bag may then be reclosed by folding thetop of the body one or more times (step 92) and then bending a firstdeformable member to engage a first side of the body and a seconddeformable member to engage a second side of the body (step 94). Steps92 and 94 may be reversed and repeated as required as animal feed isremoved from the feed bag over the course of multiple uses.

It should be understood that feed bag 10 maybe provided in a widevariety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different packagingrequirements and differing amounts of animal feed. For example, feed bag10 may be provided to contain varying weights of animal feed (e.g., 20pounds, 40 pounds, 50 pounds, etc.) and may have varying dimensions oflength (L), width (W) and height (H). For example, feed bag 10 may beprovided as a 15 inch (L)×4 inch (W)×25 inch (H) container (to hold, forexample, 20 pounds of animal feed), a 17 inch (L)×5 inch (W)×33 inch (H)container (to hold, for example, 40 pounds of animal feed), an 18 inch(L)×5 inch (W)×32 inch (H) container (to hold, for example, 40 pounds ofanimal feed), and/or an 18 inch (L)×5 inch (W)×36 inch (H) container (tohold, for example, 50 pounds of animal feed). According to variousalternative embodiments, feed bag may be provided with various otherdimensions to accommodate other amounts of animal feed.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of theelements of the animal feed bag as shown in the exemplary embodimentsare illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the presentinvention have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims.Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included withinthe scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied orre-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, anymeans-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures describedherein as performing the recited function and not only structuralequivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions,modifications, changes and/or omissions may be made in the design,operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and otherexemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

1. A reclosable animal feed container comprising: a flexible bodydefining a cavity to contain animal feed, the body having a closedbottom portion and a top portion; a removable portion coupled to the topportion removable to define an opening that provides access to animalfeed contained within the body; a closure device coupled to the bodyproximate the top portion, the closure device comprising a firstdeformable member extending from a first side of the body; wherein theopening is reclosable by providing one or more folds to the top portionof the body and bending the first deformable member to engage the firstside of the body.
 2. The reclosable animal feed container of claim 1wherein the closure device further comprises a second deformable memberextending from a second side of the body, and wherein the opening isfurther reclosable by bending the second deformable member to engage thesecond side of the body.
 3. The reclosable animal feed container ofclaim 2 wherein the closure device comprises a pair of spaced apartpliable wires at least partially encapsulated in a polymer material. 4.The reclosable animal feed container of claim 2 wherein the closuredevice comprises a pair of spaced apart pliable wires coupled togetherby a web of polymer material.
 5. The reclosable animal feed container ofclaim 2 wherein the closure device is coupled to the body with anadhesive.
 6. The reclosable animal feed container of claim 5 wherein theadhesive is a hot melt adhesive.
 7. The reclosable animal feed containerof claim 2 wherein the body comprises a front wall, a rear wall, and apair of gusseted side walls.
 8. The reclosable animal feed container ofclaim 7 wherein the pair of gusseted side walls comprise a first gussetside wall and a second gusset side wall wherein the first gusset sidewall comprises nutritional information written in a first language andthe second gusset side wall comprises nutritional information written ina second language.
 9. The reclosable animal feed container of claim 7wherein the first deformable member and the second deformable member arefolded into the pair of gusseted side walls during transportation of thebag from the manufacture to the retailer.
 10. The reclosable animal feedcontainer of claim 1 wherein the closure device is coupled to the bodyby a thread and a sewing operation.
 11. The reclosable animal feedcontainer of claim 1 wherein the body comprises woven strips of apolymer material
 12. The reclosable animal feed container of claim 11wherein the closure device is woven into the body.
 13. The reclosableanimal feed container of claim 1 wherein the removable portion comprisesa first tape wrapped around the top portion of the body, a second tapecoupled to the first tape, and a thread releasably coupled to the firsttape, the second tape, and the body.
 14. The reclosable animal feedcontainer of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a first indiciaorientated in a first direction and a second indicia orientated in asecond direction that is 180 degrees relative to the first direction.15. The reclosable animal feed container of claim 1 wherein the bottomof the body is closed with a thread by a sewing operation.
 16. Thereclosable animal feed container of claim 1 wherein the bottom of thebody is closed with a thread by a sewing operation after the animal feedis introduced into the body.
 17. A method of packaging animal feedcomprising: providing a flexible hollow body that contains animal feed,the body having a top and a bottom, the top and the bottom each havingan opening; closing the opening in the top by application of a removableportion; coupling a closure device to the body proximate the top, theclosure device comprising a deformable member and configured to engagethe body during a reclosing operation by the consumer; introducinganimal feed through the opening at the bottom to a cavity defined by thebody and the top; closing the opening in the bottom to contain theanimal feed within the body.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein theclosure device includes ends projecting from opposite sides of the bodyand configured to engage the respective sides during a reclosingoperation.
 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the reclosing operationcomprises folding the top of the body one or more times and bending afirst end of the deformable member to engage a first side of the bodyand bending a second end of the deformable member to engage a secondside of the body.
 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of closingthe opening in the top by application of the removable portion comprisesapplying a strip of material to the top adjacent the opening, and sewinga thread across the top through the body and through the strip ofmaterial.
 21. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of closing theopening in the bottom comprises sewing a thread across the bottom.
 22. Amethod of using an animal feed container having a flexible body with aclosed bottom portion and a top portion, the method comprising: openingthe top portion of the body; closing the top portion of the body by:providing one or more folds to the body and engaging the body with aclosure device that is coupled to the body proximate the top portion bybending a first deformable member extending from a first side of thebody.
 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of engaging the bodywith the closure device further comprises bending a second deformablemember extending from a second side of the body.
 24. The method of claim22 wherein the step of opening the top portion comprises removing aremovable portion coupled to the top portion and configured to bereadily removed to define an opening to provide access to animal feedcontained within the body.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the stepof comprises removing the removable portion comprises separating athread and tape strip from the top portion of the body.